Gauteng Business 2016 edition

SPECIAL FEATURE
build 79 new schools and renovate a further 300
existing schools. Many of the numerous education
institutions and research units within the province
are highly rated both within South Africa and internationally.
For instance, Gauteng is home to three
of South Africa’s five top-ranked business schools.
Technology
Gauteng is a major hub for the ICT sector in South
Africa and hosts the majority of the country’s largest
media companies. A number of multinational
technology companies — including Microsoft,
IBM and Cisco — have a presence in Gauteng,
where they operate alongside South Africa’s own
technology firms. As the industrial and financial
heartland of South Africa, the Gauteng province
attracts a multitude of foreign and domestic ICTrelated
investment and business. This is backed
by a number of multi-billion rand support programmes
directed towards ICT development by
the Gauteng provincial government.
Africa’s biggest subscription satellite television
service provider, MultiChoice, and pay television
channel provider, M-Net, are both based in
Gauteng. Numerous radio stations are housed
within the province, attracting millions of weekly
listeners from many areas and language groups.
There are four major cellular network operators in
the province: Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and its partner
Virgin Mobile, and Telkom.
Housing
Gauteng’s property market is internationally competitive.
Returns on commercial property in the
province currently outperform those in international
business centres such as New York and London;
more generally, property returns in Gauteng are
favourable by many international comparisons.
There is a thriving residential property market in
Gauteng, backed by strong demand for housing in
golf estates, cluster houses and condominiums. As
one property expert remarked: “Gauteng is leading
the market in high-end properties with long-term,
stable returns on real estate.”
Construction activity in Gauteng remains robust.
General building and civil engineering are currently
the largest construction sub-sectors in the province,
and shopping malls and modern buildings continue
to be built in every part of the province. These new
buildings tend to be modern, well-built, and constructed
to exacting and internationally competitive
standards.
The high level of construction activity has been accompanied
by a concerted effort to improve inner
city districts in Gauteng. These efforts have been
driven by a partnership between lobby groups
and the Affordable Housing Company, the JDA,
and the Johannesburg Social Housing Company.
In addition, the provincial government’s housing
policy includes a strong focus on integrating human
settlements and improving property and
housing allocations.
Dining out
Authentic South African cuisine is available at a
number of widely hailed restaurants throughout
the province. Gauteng is renowned for the quality
and breadth of its restaurant and fine dining options,
which include Italian, Portuguese, Chinese,
Japanese, Thai, Indian, Cape Malay and authentic
African cuisine. The diversity of the provincial population
has a positive influence on the range of food
available within Gauteng.
With so many activities to keep you busy on the weekends
after a fruitful week of work, Gauteng really does
offer residents the best of both worlds for business
and pleasure, all under the warm African sun.
GAUTENG BUSINESS 2016
56